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Lowell bombing survivor speaks: 'It was just pure luck'

By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com

Updated:
04/23/2013 12:43:43 PM EDT

LOWELL -- Steve "Bizz" Byrne figures he missed losing his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing by only six inches -- and a mailbox. Byrne was on the marathon sidelines on Patriots Day to cheer on a firefighter raising money for charity, and he and his friends were going to celebrate after the firefighter crossed the finish line.

"It was a nice, sunny day with good temperatures," Byrne said of his first marathon-watching experience. "It was very, very busy down in Boston; a huge turnout as always with the Boston Marathon. We were making our way over there, stopping along the way, interacting with people that we know."

That beautiful day turned ugly in less than seven minutes.

Six inches is all that separated Byrne from ending up like his friends, brothers J.P. and Paul Norden and Mark Fucarile, who each lost one leg in the explosion.

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Or it could have ended even worse for Byrne; 8-year-old Martin Richard of Dorchester, who died at the blast, was standing nearby.

"It was just pure luck," said Byrne, 31, of Lowell. "I was in surgery for hours, and I have a lot of discomfort, but I just can't complain compared to them.

"It could have been 1,000 times worse," he added. "After this day, I'm a lot more religious than I was because it was definitely someone on my side.

"Burns and scars heal over time, but my friends aren't as lucky."
Above: Boston Marathon bombing victim Steve Byrne of Lowell still has shrapnel in his face. Said Byrne of surviving Monday's tragedy, "It could have been 1,000 times worse. After this day, I'm a lot more religious than I was because it was definitely someone on my side."
At left: Byrne displays Sunday's Sun showing him throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Saturday. For exclusive video on this story, please visit lowellsun.com.
SUN photos/David H. Brow

Byrne, owner of Affordable Sealcoating, was standing on the opposite side of the mailbox from his friends, a spot that saved him from losing limbs when the second marathon bomb went off, he said.

The mailbox shielded the blast and prevented injuries to the lower half of his body, according to Byrne.

"It's the only thing that saved me," Byrne said. "Fortunately for me, I'm walking on my own today."

However, he still suffered serious injuries.

Shrapnel came over the mailbox and caught him in his face and neck; doctors cannot remove a few BBs since they're too close to major arteries and nerves that control vision, he said. This is causing a lot of pain, he said, but it's nothing considering his friends don't have legs today.

In addition, he suffered burns, a ruptured eardrum that caused permanent hearing loss in his right ear, and his right-eye vision is gone for now. Byrne is positive that the vision will come back over time, and he is hopefully heading back to work in a month.

"I'm just really fortunate," said Byrne, who started his sealcoating company seven years ago. "Burns and scars heal over time, but my friends aren't as lucky."

Byrne is optimistic that Fucarile, who suffered serious injuries to both legs, can save his remaining leg from being amputated.

"Everyone has been in high spirits for the situation," Byrne said. "This is a powerful group of guys with great attitudes and great spirits. It just shows it even more now because they're keeping a smile on their face and staying strong."

Since Byrne was one of the first marathon victims to leave the hospital after emergency trauma surgery, the Boston Red Sox asked him to throw out the first pitch at Saturday's game.

"Nervous as nervous could be," Byrne said about heading out to the pitching mound. "I'm glad the ball went where it was supposed to go, and once that was done, it was all smooth sailing from there.

"I got to meet Papi and all the guys down in the locker room," he added. "They were just friendly, genuine guys, and it was awesome."

The Red Sox game came one day after authorities arrested 19-year-old suspected bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. While the U.

S. Attorney's office seeks the death penalty for Tsarnaev, Byrne said that punishment would be "the easy way out."

"I believe in it in certain cases, but not in this one because it's far too easy," Byrne said. "He's a young guy, so hopefully he has 80 years left in him to sit in some miserable situation."

Byrne's medical bills are through the roof from staying at the hospital and undergoing surgeries to remove the shrapnel, he said. He also has infections to his wounds, so he needs to receive antibiotic IV shots twice a day.

He is uninsured and needs help to cover the significant costs.

"He had surgeries, CAT scans, MRIs, two nights in the hospital, and a myriad of other tests/procedures done. It piles up," said Matt Charbonneau, a close friend. "Various people have reached out, and it's been amazing support so far. It's really nice to see people come together. But we need more help."

Charbonneau is leading an online fundraising effort to help cover the estimated $100,000 in Byrne's medical bills. To donate, visit fundly.com/benefitforbizz. Byrne said these funds will be divvied up with his friends.

There's also a fund set up for Byrne at Eastern Bank in Lowell. Checks can be made out to the Steve Bizz Foundation and mailed to Eastern Bank, 50 Central St., Lowell, MA 01852, in care of Karen Davis.

There will be a fundraising event for Byrne on Saturday, May 4, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Finn's Pub, 78 Merrimack St., Lowell. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10. There will be a live DJ, raffles and Jeveli's Restaurant is donating all the food.

"It's not just the funds we hope to raise to help with the rising medical bills but just hoping for a large turnout to show Steve how much he is loved and cared for," said Kristi Mietzner, his sister. "It's more to help heal his emotions than anything."

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